Another blown save, another extra-inning win

Published 4:00 am, Friday, August 31, 2007

For the second straight game at the Coliseum, Huston Street took the mound to begin the ninth inning with a 4-2 lead, but couldn't convert the save opportunity - and for the second straight game, the A's prevailed 5-4 in extra innings.

On Wednesday afternoon, he allowed solo homers by Toronto's Lyle Overbayand Matt Stairsin a game the A's won 5-4 in 11 innings. On Friday night, three Detroit singles and an infield out forged the tie, with pinch-hitter Sean Casey's two-out, RBI base hit making the score 4-4.

Oakland Athletics' Dan Johnson (29) gets a handshake from coach Renee Lachemann, left, after Johnson homered off Detroit Tigers' Virgil Vasquez in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, in ... more

Photo: Ben Margot

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Another blown save, another extra-inning win

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"I got a win today," Street said, "but it was Blanton's win."

Joe Blantonallowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Blanton's line might have looked much worse if not for a brilliant catch by Nick Swisher. The Tigers led 2-0 with one out in the second inning and Ivan Rodriguez on second when Cameron Maybinscorched a ball to right-center.

Three Oakland left-handed hitters homered off Detroit rookie Virgil Vasquez. Jack Hannahan took Vasquez deep to right in the second inning. Hannahan, whom the A's acquired in a minor-league deal with the Tigers on Aug. 14, extended his hitting streak to 12 games with his third homer. Jack Cust hit his 23rd HR to tie the game in the fourth and one out later, Johnson's 14th of the season gave the A's a 3-2 lead.

Braden on Sunday: The A's announced that Dallas Bradenwill get recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to start Sunday against the Tigers. He fills the rotation spot that became available when the Dodgers acquired Esteban Loaiza on waivers Wednesday.

Braden, a rookie left-hander, has gone 1-7 with a 6.32 ERA during his stints with the big club. He tossed complete games in each of his last two outings with the River Cats, including a 17-strikeout, three-hit shutout against Colorado Springs on Monday.

Briefly: Sacramento clinched the PCL South Division title with a 6-5 victory at Tucson on Friday night.